Late last year, a woman was killed in a hit-and-run in Century City. The unknown driver sped off, leaving the family to mourn their tragic loss. In difficult times such as these, communities band together to help the families seek justice for their loved ones. In 2024, KTLA reported California was the state with the most fatal hit-and-run crashes.  

Despite our strict laws on driving and insurance requirements, we must remember that Los Angeles is a densely populated area. If you find yourself involved in a hit-and-run, meeting with a personal injury lawyer in Century City is a great first step in recovering the compensation you deserve.  

What is a Hit-and-Run? 

A hit-and-run happens when a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, a car, and/or property and drives off. In California, a hit-and-run can be classified as a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the damage. It is a misdemeanor if there is only property damage. It becomes a felony if there is an injury.  

How are Hit-and-Runs Different from Other Accidents?  

The steps taken after a hit-and-run are no different from a regular car accident. The only difference is that you may or may not discover the driver’s identity. If the hit-and-run driver is identified after the accident, your insurance company will file the claim with the other driver’s insurance. Because hit-and-runs are crimes, you may be asked to testify for a criminal hearing.  

What Do I Need to Report to My Insurance? 

Like a typical car accident, it’s important to get as much information as you can about the other car if you’re on the scene. Take note of the following:  

• License plate number  

• Make  

• Model 

• Driver description and any potential passengers 

• Witnesses  

• Photos  

• Videos and dashcam footage if available 

• Police report 

• Medical records 

Do I Have to Report this to the Police? 

Yes. If you witness a hit-and-run, you must alert the authorities. A hit-and-run can easily become a felony charge if you or someone else is injured. Calling police and medical teams to the scene should be a priority to assess the situation. It also gives the afflicted parties an official record to validate their claim to their insurance company and personal injury attorney.  

Will My Insurance Compensate Me? 

If you have the proper insurance coverage, your insurance will compensate you for damages. If the driver is never identified, your collision coverage should cover the damage to your car. If you don’t have the proper coverage, your insurance may not cover it.  

California Insurance Coverage  

In California, the basic car insurance plans come with uninsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM), uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) and uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD). All California drivers should have this insurance, unless they rejected it in writing when applying for insurance. If you have collision coverage, your insurance pays for damages to your car no matter who holds the majority of the fault.  

Optional Insurance Plans 

Medical payments coverage, or MedPay, is optional coverage that compensates the medical expenses of anyone who was in your car when an accident occurred. Personal injury protection (PIP) is not required in California, but it can help cover compensation from things needed in a personal injury case like lost wages and medical bills.  

What If I Don’t Have Insurance?  

If you don’t have insurance, you most likely will have to pay for repairs and damages out-of-pocket. In California, driving uninsured may result in a fine from $100 to over $1,000. The state may also impound your vehicle and/or suspend your license for a maximum of four years.   

The Exception 

The only way around this is if you have proof of liability insurance with limits of $15,000 for property damage, $30,000 for injury to each person, and $60,000 for injuries per incident or an alternative form of proof of financial responsibility, such as a money deposit with the state treasurer.  

What Are the Legal Penalties for a Hit-and-Run? 

A hit-and-run that only involves property damage is a misdemeanor that can result in fines and up to six months in county jail. A hit-and-run that leads to injury or death will result in fines and a max of four years in state prison. 

How Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help Me? 

A personal injury lawyer in Century City can help you in many ways. With a free consultation, you can get insight into your specific case that can help you in getting the compensation you deserve. If you choose to move forward with an attorney, these are the services they can provide:  

• Legal Counsel 

Navigating the law is a daunting task. With the help of a lawyer, learning about your legal options becomes easy. 

• Evidence Collection 

It’s important to collect evidence from the scene and present it to your attorney to show that you have a potential case. Your attorney also has access to expert opinions that can greatly help your case. If you weren’t able to collect evidence because you were at the hospital, your lawyer can help. 

• Medical Care 

If you don’t have health insurance or a go-to doctor, your attorney can connect you with their network of doctors who will treat you with the promise that you won’t pay until you are compensated for your injuries.  

• Find Fault 

In a personal injury case, finding fault is the most important step. This determines compensation and sets the parameters for potential suits. In California, lawyers practice comparative negligence. This legal doctrine states that all parties involved in an accident may hold fault. How much fault depends on the evidence brought forth by all the parties involved in an accident. Once the attorneys divvy up the responsibility, you are able to collect compensation for whatever percentage of fault you did not have. For example, if you were found 40 percent liable for an accident, you can collect 60 percent of your total damages.  

• File Claim 

With the intimate knowledge of your case thanks to your evidence, your attorney can tell you if you have a solid case. If you do, your attorney will handle all the legal paperwork on your behalf. 

• Negotiation  

Often, insurance companies think about their bottom line over their clients. This leads to minimal compensation. If your insurance company is lowballing your compensation offer, your attorney can negotiate for the compensation you deserve using the medical records you’ve collected.  

• Trial 

In many cases, personal injury cases are settled before reaching court. In the rare occasion that you do go to trial, your attorney can use their legal expertise and network of experts to fight for you.  

FAQ 

Should I Chase the Other Car to Obtain their Information? 

No, never pursue the fleeing car. That is dangerous for yourself and other drivers and pedestrians. Call the police and report the car with as much detail as possible. This includes a description of the car, license plate, and driver, and the general direction they went in. The police will begin tracking down the perpetrator. 

What if I’m Hit During a Police Pursuit?  

That is a legal gray area and may require a skilled attorney. Thanks to sovereign immunity, state and local government agencies cannot be sued when their actions injure bystanders. In California, law enforcement agencies can create guidelines and hold training for proper vehicle pursuit. If they have this set in place, then law enforcement will not be held responsible for any damage.  

However, there are exceptions to that rule. If it is found that the offending officer was negligent in their actions, then they can be sued for damages.  

How Often Are Hit-and-Run Drivers Found?  

Unfortunately, not often. If a hit-and-run driver successfully gets away, then they often won’t be found. There are cases where perpetrators have been found months later, but most often, these drivers make an escape. However, even if a hit-and-run driver isn’t found, you can still call upon a car accident lawyer’s help to file your insurance claim. 

What If I Was Not in a Car When Hit?  

Cyclists and pedestrians are at a high risk for serious or life-threatening injuries when hit by a hit-and-run driver. Call an ambulance and the police to file a report. Like any other accident, taking note of anything you can to help identify the mystery driver will be a great help in your investigation. If you have insurance, call them to find out what steps you can take. If not, get in contact with a personal injury attorney to find out what your legal next steps are.  

When Do Hit-and-Runs Happen? 

Most hit-and-runs happen at night or at crosswalks. Sometimes drivers become antsy when turning and end up hitting a pedestrian. Sometimes a pedestrian will try to cross the street when they don’t have the right of way. Regardless, it’s important that, as a driver or as a pedestrian, people stay aware of their surroundings and follow traffic rules.  

Hit-and-Run Accident Lawyers in Century City 

Our lawyers at Vaziri Law, LLP, have a combined total of over 100 years of expertise. We are dedicated to helping our clients receive the compensation they deserve in an accident. If you’ve been in a hit-and-run accident, contact a personal injury lawyer in Century City today!